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Detroit Medical Center today launched the largest "Obamacare" sign-up campaign in Southeast Michigan as more than 60 organizations and elected officials have agreed to participate in the DMC-led Path to Health program.

The purpose of Path to Health is to educate people about health insurance and how to enroll either in a private health insurance policy or Medicaid, said DMC CEO Joe Mullany.

"DMC is just one piece of this puzzle. We really look forward to working with everybody, putting our personal interests aside and putting the interests of the population's health as our No. 1 priority," said Mullany in a statement.

People shopping for private health insurance on the Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace can visit www.healthcare.gov for enrollment information. Most individuals have until March 31 to sign up for coverage, which would begin May 1, before being subject to a financial penalty mandated under the Affordable Care Act.

Most health systems and health insurers in Southeast Michigan have developed programs and campaigns to help enroll people in the nation's new health insurance system or Medicaid expansion in Michigan, which begins April 1.

Moreover, hundreds of trained certified application counselors and navigators at dozens of nonprofit agencies in Michigan are assisting the uninsured enroll in a health care plan. A quick place to start to find information online is at Enroll Michigan.

Participating organizations in DMC's Path to Health include Detroit clergies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers, social services and state services.

Kicking off the campaign this morning at a media event at DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan were Mike Duggan, Detroit mayor and former DMC CEO; Conrad Mallett, campaign chair of Path to Health, and Chris Allen, executive director of the Wayne County Health Authority. Others participating included the Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit NAACP, and Margie Mitchell, executive director of MichUCAN.

"People who come in to Sinai-Grace, Detroit Receiving, Harper-Hutzel, even Huron Valley-Sinai all come for a variety of different health care circumstances," said Mallett, who also is DMC's chief administration officer.

"This will allow us to achieve the central plan of the Affordable Care Act, which is preventative care."